PALESTIANIAN TERRORISTS TO ISRAEL: MEET DEMANDS OR SUFFER CONSEQUENCES
Randy L. Harrington
July 03, 2006
ISRAEL—Palestinian Hamas terrorists who kidnapped an Israeli soldier gave Israel 24 hours ion Monday to release Palestinian prisoners, or there would be consequences for Israel.
Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has declined the terrorists offer, and the Israeli defense chief has pointed out that Israel knows “how to reach everyone responsible” if the kidnapped soldier is harmed.
Palestinian Hamas terrorists, calling their demands “humanitarian” said that if Israel did not do as they demanded that they would “regard this case as closed.” The terrorists went on to say that “We give the Zionist enemy until 6 am. Tomorrow, Tuesday, the fourth of July.”
The terrorists warned that unless Israel complied with its demands that “the enemy will bear fully responsibility for future consequences.”
Israel replied that “The government of Israel will not yield to extortion of the Palestinian Authority and the Hamas government, which are led by murderous terrorist organizations.” Prime Minister Olmert's released statement said “We will not conduct any negotiations on a prisoner release...the Palestinian Authority bears full responsibility for the well-being of Giliad Shalit and his return, safe and sound to Israel.”
Israel who pulled out of the Gaza region last year, has sent troops and tanks into the southern Gaza Strip, after Corporal Giliad Shalit was kidnapped on July 25. Three Hamas led groups have taken credit for the kidnapping—Hamas' Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, the Popular Resistance Committees, and the previously unknown Islamic Army. They initially demanded the release of 1,000 prisoners, and have now narrowed that demand down to 400.
Just hours before the Palestinian terrorists made their demands, Israel sent tanks, and armed bulldozers into the northern Gaza Strip to locate tunnels and explosives along the border fence.
Israeli warplanes killed a Palestinian terrorist. The Israeli government said that it identified two terrorist gunmen, and it fired at both, hitting one of them.
In a strong warning to the Palestinian terrorists, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said that Hamas' headquarters in Damascus that is controlled by exiled leader Khaled Mashaal “is the main address that bears responsibility” for the soldiers kidnapping. Mashaal had denied Hamas' involvement last week. Syrian Hamas' leadership originally expressed their happiness in the kidnapping, has now begun to downplay their joy, and has still maintained that they have no control over Hamas' military operations.
Israel, and the United States have lodged official protests with Syria. For the most part Israel has accused Syria of harboring the Hamas terrorists. Peretz had a strong warning to Syria: “I suggest to (Syrian President) Bashar Assad, who is trying to turn a blind eye, that he open his eyes, as the responsibility is at his doorstep.”
Last week Israeli jet fighters flew over Assad's palace in a show of force over his silence regarding the Hamas' terrorist organization in Syria.
Israel warplanes have been on the attack all last week, and have been flying nightly sorties. On Sunday Israeli warplanes attacked the office of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh. Israeli Army attack helicopters fired missiles into a Gaza City building that Israel said was used by Palestinian terrorists. Then they fired two missiles into a north Gaza neighborhood wounding one person.
Israel has vowed that they would escalate the attacks on Gaza that are designed to depose the Palestinian authorities, who Israel has referred to as a terrorist organization.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: API; REUTERS; ISRAEL POST
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has declined the terrorists offer, and the Israeli defense chief has pointed out that Israel knows “how to reach everyone responsible” if the kidnapped soldier is harmed.
Palestinian Hamas terrorists, calling their demands “humanitarian” said that if Israel did not do as they demanded that they would “regard this case as closed.” The terrorists went on to say that “We give the Zionist enemy until 6 am. Tomorrow, Tuesday, the fourth of July.”
The terrorists warned that unless Israel complied with its demands that “the enemy will bear fully responsibility for future consequences.”
Israel replied that “The government of Israel will not yield to extortion of the Palestinian Authority and the Hamas government, which are led by murderous terrorist organizations.” Prime Minister Olmert's released statement said “We will not conduct any negotiations on a prisoner release...the Palestinian Authority bears full responsibility for the well-being of Giliad Shalit and his return, safe and sound to Israel.”
Israel who pulled out of the Gaza region last year, has sent troops and tanks into the southern Gaza Strip, after Corporal Giliad Shalit was kidnapped on July 25. Three Hamas led groups have taken credit for the kidnapping—Hamas' Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, the Popular Resistance Committees, and the previously unknown Islamic Army. They initially demanded the release of 1,000 prisoners, and have now narrowed that demand down to 400.
Just hours before the Palestinian terrorists made their demands, Israel sent tanks, and armed bulldozers into the northern Gaza Strip to locate tunnels and explosives along the border fence.
Israeli warplanes killed a Palestinian terrorist. The Israeli government said that it identified two terrorist gunmen, and it fired at both, hitting one of them.
In a strong warning to the Palestinian terrorists, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said that Hamas' headquarters in Damascus that is controlled by exiled leader Khaled Mashaal “is the main address that bears responsibility” for the soldiers kidnapping. Mashaal had denied Hamas' involvement last week. Syrian Hamas' leadership originally expressed their happiness in the kidnapping, has now begun to downplay their joy, and has still maintained that they have no control over Hamas' military operations.
Israel, and the United States have lodged official protests with Syria. For the most part Israel has accused Syria of harboring the Hamas terrorists. Peretz had a strong warning to Syria: “I suggest to (Syrian President) Bashar Assad, who is trying to turn a blind eye, that he open his eyes, as the responsibility is at his doorstep.”
Last week Israeli jet fighters flew over Assad's palace in a show of force over his silence regarding the Hamas' terrorist organization in Syria.
Israel warplanes have been on the attack all last week, and have been flying nightly sorties. On Sunday Israeli warplanes attacked the office of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh. Israeli Army attack helicopters fired missiles into a Gaza City building that Israel said was used by Palestinian terrorists. Then they fired two missiles into a north Gaza neighborhood wounding one person.
Israel has vowed that they would escalate the attacks on Gaza that are designed to depose the Palestinian authorities, who Israel has referred to as a terrorist organization.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: API; REUTERS; ISRAEL POST
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.